Article buffing apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus and method for buffing articles, such as leather goods, silverware and the like. The apparatus includes a container for receiving an article to be buffed. The interior of the container has a buffing material therein and is of a size to permit relative movement of the article and the buffing material so that, when the container is moved about, such as in the drum of a clothes dryer, the article and the buffing material move continuously into frictional engagement with each other causing a buffing action to occur. Several embodiments of the container are disclosed. A clothes dryer can be used for moving the container. In the alternative, a coin operated drum can be provided.

I claim: 
     
       1. Buffing apparatus comprising: a container; a flexible bag of buffing material for placement into the container, said bag adapted for receiving an article to be buffed, said container adapted to be placed in a shiftable bin and moved about relative to a predetermined reference as the bin is shifted, there being a buffing element for placement in the bag, said element having a buffing material thereon frictionally engageable with the article in the bag, said container being of a size to permit the bag, the article and the element to move relative to container as the container is moved relative to said reference.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the buffing element comprises a hollow body adapted to contain a weight material and having a layer of buffing material covering the outer surface of the body. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the weight material is water, said layer being of a stretchable fabric. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the stretchable material is comprised of a synthetic material. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said synthetic material is a combination of nylon and Lycra. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the stretchable material has approximately a 210% stretchable in length and a 75% stretch in width. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a rotary drum for removably receiving the container to allow the container to be moved about in the container relative to the central axis of the drum. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein is included a brace for releasably holding the container in a fixed position within the drum. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the brace is spring biased and is on one side of the container for forcing the container against the inner surface of the drum. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the container is freely received within the drum for substantially random movement therewithin. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the drum has a number of spaced, inner peripheral projections, and including an inflatable, tubular member for covering the projections, the container being within the tubular member and maintained thereby out of substantial contact with said projection. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein is included a pair of braces engageable with opposed ends of the container for maintaining the container in a fixed position within the drum, with the longitudinal axis of the container substantially transverse to the axis of rotation of the drum. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a drum drive mechanism containing a drum rotatable about a central axis, a motor for rotating the drum, and a coin actuated mechanism for actuating the motor. 
     
     
       14. Buffing apparatus comparising: a container;   a flexible bag for placement in the container and adapted for receiving an article capable of being buffed, said container having means for mounting the container in a shiftable bin for movement relative to a predetermined reference as the bin is shifted, there being a flexible, hollow element for placement in the bag and having a buffing surface engageable with the article in the bag, said element adapted to receive and contain a weight material, said container being of a size to permit the bag, the element and the article to move relative to the container as the container is moved relative to said reference.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the material received in the element is water. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the bag has an opening and means for closing the opening. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the buffing element comprises a body having a layer of buffing material covering the outer surface of the body. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the body is provided with a hole therein to permit a weight material to be placed in the element, and a plug for closing said hole. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the weight material is water, said layer being of a stretchable fabric. 
     
     
       20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the stretchable material is comprised of a synthetic material. 
     
     
       21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said synthetic material is a combination of nylon and Lycra. 
     
     
       22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the stretchable material has approximately a 210% stretch in length and a 75% stretch in width. 
     
     
       23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein the element body is a vinyl ball. 
     
     
       24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said container has a triangular shape, and including means at the corners of the container for releasably attaching the container to the inner surface of a rotary drum. 
     
     
       25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein the container has a wall provided with an access opening, and means coupled with the wall for closing said opening. 
     
     
       26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said closing means includes a zipper. 
     
     
       27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein said attaching means includes a suction cup coupling device. 
     
     
       28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27, wherein said coupling device includes a suction cup, a shaft extending outwardly from said suction cup, and an eyelet on the outer end of the shaft. 
     
     
       29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein the container has a rod at each corner thereof, respectively, the container having an opening at each corner for exposing a segment of the respective rod, the eyelet of the adjacent coupling device removably receiving the respective rod. 
     
     
       30. Buffing apparatus comprising: a container; a flexible bag of buffing material for placement into the container, said bag adapted for receiving an article to be buffed, said container adapted to be placed in a shiftable bin and moved about relative to a predetermined reference as the bin is shifted, there being a buffing element for placement in the bag, said element having a buffing material thereon frictionally engageable with the article in the bag, said container being of a size to permit the bag, the article and the element to move relative to the container as the container is moved relative to said reference, the buffing element comprising a flexible, hollow body having a layer of buffing material covering the outer surface of the body, said body having a hole therein to permit a weight material to be placed in the body, and a plug for closing said hole.   
     
     
       31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein said body is a vinyl ball. 
     
     
       32. Buffing apparatus comprising: A container having a triangular shape and adapted for receiving an article to be buffed, said container adapted to be placed in a shiftable bin and moved about relative to a predetermined reference as the bin is shifted, there being a buffing element in the container, said element having a buffing material thereon frictionally engageable with the article in the container, said container being of a size to permit the article therein to move relative to the buffing element and the container as the container is moved relative to said reference, and means at the corners of the container for releasably attaching the container to the inner surface of a rotary drum.   
     
     
       33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein the container has a wall provided with an access opening, and means coupled with the wall for closing said opening. 
     
     
       34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33, wherein said closing means includes a zipper. 
     
     
       35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein said attaching means includes a suction cup coupling device. 
     
     
       36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein said coupling device includes a suction cup, a shaft extending outwardly from said suction cup, and an eyelet on the outer end of the shaft. 
     
     
       37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 36, wherein the container has a rod at each corner thereof, respectively, the container having an opening at each corner for exposing a segment of the respective rod, the eyelet of the adjacent coupling device removable receiving the respective rod.